tic
Uncontrollable facial jerk
A tic is a sudden, involuntary muscle movement or vocalization—an eye twitch, a shoulder jerk, a throat-clearing sound.
Tics are associated with conditions like Tourette syndrome but can occur in anyone under stress.
Figuratively, a tic is any habitual quirk or mannerism: His constant throat-clearing became a verbal tic.
Not to be confused with tick, the bloodsucking arachnid or the checkmark.
Involuntary muscular jerk
- spasmInvoluntary muscle contraction
- jerkAbrupt pulling motion
- tremorInvoluntary rhythmic shaking
- convulsionSudden involuntary muscle contractions
flinch · shudder · blink · grimace · contraction · motor · neurological · uncontrollable
Linked symptoms forming pattern
- neurologicalOf the nervous system
- diagnosisIdentification of illness
- symptomIndicator of disease
- conditionState or stipulation
psychiatric · neuropsychiatric · echolalia · chronic · transient · childhood · onset · comorbid
Persistent apprehensive distress
- stressPressure, mental or vocal
- tensionStretched or strained state
- nervousnessState of anxious unease
- habitSettled regular tendency
fidget · mannerism · nail-biting · hair-pulling · restless · agitation · edginess · apprehension
twitch
Involuntary muscular jerk
convulsion · flinch · shudder · blink · grimace · contraction · motor · neurological · uncontrollable · repetitive
syndrome
Linked symptoms forming pattern
- neurologicalOf the nervous system
- diagnosisIdentification of illness
- symptomIndicator of disease
condition · psychiatric · neuropsychiatric · echolalia · chronic · transient · childhood · onset · comorbid · medication
anxiety
Persistent apprehensive distress
- stressPressure, mental or vocal
- tensionStretched or strained state
- nervousnessState of anxious unease
habit · fidget · mannerism · nail-biting · hair-pulling · restless · agitation · edginess · apprehension · worried
click
Brief sharp noise
rhythmic · repetitive · steady · mechanical · watch · timer · second · beat · pulse · regular
- behaviorshabit, aggressive, agitation, conduct, passive
- uncontrollable reactionsreflex, twitch, spasm, seizure, convulsion
- learned responsesconditioned reflex, classical conditioning, salivation, aversion, avoidance
- muscle movementscontraction, flexion, extension, twitch, spasm
- neurological symptomsnumbness, tremor, paralysis, aphasia, ataxia
- spasmsspasm, convulsion, twitch, jerk, seizure
ticstillness
Complete lack of motion
calm · composure · steadiness · poise · equanimity
- parking ticketFine for illegal parking
- lottery ticketPurchased chance at prize
- one-way ticketFare for departure only
- plane ticketDocument for air travel
- speeding ticketPenalty for excessive velocity
- ticked offAngry or checked off
ticket, tick, ticklish, ticking, ticker, tick-tock, ticked off, ticked, tics